Physical Therapy focuses primarily on developing gross motor skills, such as sitting, standing, walking, running, jumping, and overall fitness. Good Shepherd Center’s physical therapists work with children through activities designed to help them grow stronger and more independent. Different from an adult’s stringent physical therapy exercise program, a child’s therapy session may resemble playtime. Through the use of balls, balance beams and various “fun” pieces of therapy equipment, children are usually very willing to participate in their individualized therapy programs.
Physical Therapy can benefit the following areas:
Gross motor skills and coordination
Motor planning
Balance, standing and gait related function
Strengthening
Posture, tone
Evaluation for adaptive equipment and orthopedic devices is available if needed.
Physical Therapists help parents and care givers learn to play and interact with their children to stimulate quality movement patterns in the home environment.
When does a child need physical therapy? Your child/infant may benefit from physical therapy if you have concerns about the following:
Expected developmental milestones during the first year of life such as rolling, sitting, standing, walking are not met
They walk on their tiptoes or walk in an awkward manner.
They have a strong preference for turning their head to one side or using one side of their body.
They are not able to perform the same gross motor tasks as their peers (hopping, jumping, skipping.)
They frequently trip and fall when walking.
They complain of pain when performing gross motor tasks.